A federal judge has dismissed a gay couple’s lawsuit that claims that Continental Airlines’ employees embarrassed and humiliated them after they taped a dildo to their luggage, Courthouse News reports.

In late August it was reported that Christopher Bridgeman and Martin Borger, who reside in Norfolk, Va., and were traveling to Costa Rica in May 2011, filed a lawsuit against Continental Airlines for humiliating them in public. The men said that the airline’s workers went through their luggage, found the dildo and taped it to their bag, which embarrassed the couple as everyone in baggage claim could see their sex toy. According to the suit, Bridgeman and Borger were seeking damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and negligence.

"I knew exactly what it was when I saw it," Borger said. "I was absolutely and utterly shocked and embarrassed and humiliated and I didn’t even know what to do at the time."

The complaint stated that the couple suffered a "high degree of shock and embarrassment" and that they had to call two friends to the airport to help them. Additionally, witnesses allegedly laughed when they saw the sex toy taped to the bag, which also caused the men to have sever emotional trauma.

"I absolutely, fervently believe that this was intentional," Bridgeman said. "It was very sick and it was very wrong and it was just maliciously taped to the top and targeted because we’re gay."

A spokeswoman for Continental, however, said an investigation was launched and there was no support for the couple’s accusations.

"United does not tolerate discrimination of any kind," Christen David said. "We will vigorously defend ourselves and our employees."

When the case went before U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt on Thursday, he dismissed the claim and said, "The Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air, commonly known as the Montreal Convention, pre-empts the claims for damages related to the mishandling of luggage, according to the ruling. Adopted in 1999, the Montreal Convention sets conditions and limits for the damages that passengers can seek. Borger and Bridgeman were unable to circumvent the treaty to find relief, according to the four-page order."

Comments

Anonymous, 2012-12-07 09:06:02

People seem to think that air travel is a right. It isn’t. If you don’t want your big dildo being handled by the TSA or baggage handlers, then don’t pack it. Seriously? You can’t go on vacation without your dildo? I think they are just embarrassed that everyone now knows about it.

Tim Petricca, 2012-12-07 16:52:50

You are so completely wrong on this. Yes, everyone expects TSA to go through your baggage but I don’t expect them to take items out and put them on display. Forget the dildo for a minute. It could have been your underwear, camera or medications. This was just wrong of them to do it no matter what item is was.

Anonymous, 2012-12-08 13:45:11

So embarrassed, yet they poser so well for the pic, the publicity... Drama much?

Anonymous, 2012-12-09 09:26:54

I was a baggage handler for an airline for 8 yrs., and I know that going through a passenger’s luggage is not allowed, accepted or condoned. The guys who taped the dildo to the luggage are likely SUPER closet cases, just like a huge # of those at the airline I worked for in Denver. That airline’s name begins with "F", which stands for "F’ed up". Those guys were the most ignorant SOBs that I’ve ever encountered. So, I say screw Cuntinetal Airlines and their homophobic, closet-case ramp rats. Who knows, it’s likely that 2 of them used the dildo on each other before taping it to the luggage. Smoke that you dog F ’ers.

Anonymous, 2013-01-02 11:54:05

That is wrong and horrible ! I feel sorry for the guys, that would have been the worst moment ever if that happened to me